The WTA season is officially over. I think I speak for everyone when I say "othankgod". I definitely need a break. And alcohol. Maybe some decriminalized, but not legalized, drugs.
But before we wrap it up, here are some good quotes from Doha:
On that whole Caro being #1 business:
Q. You also reached the No. 1 spot without winning a slam at first. How do you think about this debate?
KIM CLIJSTERS: The consistency is also a big part of being a professional tennis player. I think almost anybody can go to a tournament and do well and beat the No. 1 player in the world. You're not looked at as the No. 1 player until you're actually there. She hasn't won a Grand Slam yet. Like you all have said, she's only 20 years old and achieved so much. So I don't think in a couple years' time we'll be asking that same question again.
Q. But how did you feel when you made it yourself, being criticized about being No. 1 and not having won a Grand Slam?
JELENA JANKOVIC: Being No. 1 is about playing through the whole year. It's not about making one result and then fading away and not being able to make any other good results.
Q. You had some tough matches against Caroline recently. She's the new world No. 1 without any slam. Do you think it's fair that she has this position?
VERA ZVONAREVA: You know, I think it works both ways. It's like if somebody wins a Grand Slam, it doesn't mean you have to grant them world No. 1 ranking right away. If they did great at the Grand Slam, they still have to win more matches to get to that No. 1 position. You cannot just give them world No. 1 ranking.
Q. You say she deserves to be No. 1. You think the debate about being No. 1 without winning a slam is not fair?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, no, no. I don't think like this. She won five tournaments in the last seven, no? Six tournaments. This is not lucky. This is work. This is because you deserve it. If she didn't won one Grand Slam, I think it's just for age and maybe a little bit experience. But in the next four, I think one I can bet on her.
Q. Next season Caroline will start the season at No. 1, and all the public eyes will be on her because she's not won a Grand Slam. What's your advice to her? She is still young and has something to learn, I guess, the.
KIM CLIJSTERS: The advice is not to listen to it. That's the only thing. Because she will win a Grand Slam. She is too good of a player not to. She's young; she's No. 1. I mean, you know, she's too good of a player.
I really hope that she doesn't worry about. She has good parents. They have good heads on their shoulders. She just has to keep working the way that she has been working. She's been doing really good things, and the good things will keep coming then.
Q. And in terms of if you win this, there's all this talk of you haven't won Grand Slam, so should she be No. 1. This is a pretty big tournament. To win this, do you think that will put some of those skeptics to rest, or is that really even something to think about?
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: To be honest, there will always be skeptics. There's always people saying, You'll never reach top 10; never reach top 5; you'll never become this, that, win a big tournament. And if you win a Grand Slam, people will say, Okay, that was just a lucky shot or an easy draw. For me, the most important thing is just that I know that I've had a great season. I've won six tournaments so far, and my friends and family are the ones that mean the most to me. That's what I care about.
Prior to the tournament...
Q. Are you inspired to think of next year as maybe that one year when you make that Grand Slam breakthrough?
ELENA DEMENTIEVA: I don't think about next year. I'm just thinking about this week.
Frank Thoughts:
Q. I wonder, since winning Roland Garros, the perception of other people towards you, have you sensed that it's changed a little? Do people see you a little differently now? Perhaps other players, perhaps just ordinary Italians, people in the street.
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Of course people in the street. I work in Italy and they say, Hello. Are you Francesca? You look smaller than in the TV. I say, No, don't tell me like this. I work hours and hours to became big. And about the tennis player, I think everybody respect me from when I start to play because I respect the other.
Q. You had an amazing year. How do you explain your development? How come you're such a late bloomer?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I don't think there is early or late. Everybody have a different time to explode or to do a good job. Was my time at 29 years old; maybe another one is at 20. But I don't think it's late. Maybe for you, yes, but not for me. I don't look young?
Q. What's happened at the beginning of the third set when you have something in your hand?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I sit on my energy gel and I was sticky everywhere, racquet and -- everywhere.
Q. Did you know before the match that it was the last?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Everybody know; not me. You know, when you stay with the boy and at the end of history you understand that he was with another one, exactly the same. (Laughter.)
Bepa, always the diplomat:
Q. Who would you vote for?
VERA ZVONAREVA: I would vote -- I don't know, but I really like Rafael Nadal. I like the way he plays, and just as an athlete and an a person. I think his interviews are always funny. I'm really enjoying watching him.
Q. And best-dressed player?VERA ZVONAREVA: Best dressed player, um, I don't know. It's tough to say, but I think Roger's got a good style. (Smiling.)
Vika Snark:
Q. You beat Clijsters already in Eastbourne, I guess. At the other hand, in Miami you had almost no chances against her. What was the difference between these two chances?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Did you watch the match in Miami?
Q. Yes.VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, I was up in this set, so you cannot say that I had no chances.
If you like tennis, Bepa likes you:
Q. You a big Grace Jones fan then?
VERA ZVONAREVA: I don't know. No, not really, but I like the T-shirt.
Q. I see. Because she goes to a lot of tennis events.VERA ZVONAREVA: Does she?
Q. Yeah.VERA ZVONAREVA: That's great. So I will become her fan.
Pulpo Sam:
Q. Was it even more sore to see her winning the US Open afterwards?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, I guess I tend to lose to the winner quite often these days. It's happened a few times. So I guess that's a good thing in some ways.
Shy Ronnie-- I mean, Sam:
Q. You are quite a sort of private person and a little bit reserved on the outside. There's that sort of perception of you. Do you get any more comfortable with this kind of thing now? I think that award involves media stuff as well and sponsor appearances. Are you growing into that side of being a top 10er?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I think so. I've always been a bit shy, and, yeah, don't really let myself go too much. I'm getting more used to it for sure. The last couple years there's definitely been more commitments you have to fulfill and things to do and all that kind of thing. Yeah, I guess it brings out another side of me, so it's fun.
After the car accident:
Q. Looking forward to the journey back to the hotel?
KIM CLIJSTERS: (Laughing.) Maybe I'll walk.
Kim on Sam:
Q. Give us a little bit of a critique of Sam. It's her first year in the Championships and her first year in the top 10. How do you feel her game has come along?
KIM CLIJSTERS: I think Sam is one of the players when I cam back on the tour that I felt, together with Safina, who physically have improved a lot. I think Sam has always been a player who had a strong serve, had a big forehand. But I think her big weakness in the past was still her movement, and I think that's something that she's really, really worked on that.
And now as well, a few times when you see her going for the wide forehand, I think that's something that she -- she really steps it up there. She just looks physically a lot stronger as well. I think that's why she's always -- her best game was always good, but I think now she's been able to consistently have it there.
